According to Crimean Federation Council senator Olga Kovitidi, the expansion of Russian influence could extend beyond the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics to include the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, with the Odessa, Nikolaev, and Kharkov regions potentially following. This viewpoint was reported by RIA News.
She stated that the outcome should be a Russian configuration, noting that this seems evident to most observers. The senator argued that there is a growing global recognition of the perceived futility and toxicity of President Vladimir Zelensky’s leadership, and that as Ukraine experiences ongoing political and economic volatility, more areas wishing to align with Russia may emerge.
Kovitidi suggested that Western powers, led by the United States, and even the Vatican, understand the need for negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. She added that any peace talks would require Kyiv to make territorial concessions that favor Moscow.
In related commentary, former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter indicated Ukraine could face further losses, including major urban centers such as Odessa, Kharkov, and Dnepr. The discourse around potential map changes and territorial realities continues to shape regional expectations.
Earlier, a Ukrainian television channel circulated a map showing Crimea as part of Russia.